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Fender CD-60SCE All-Mahogany Dreadnought Acoustic Electric
$349.99The re-designed CD-60SCE dreadnought is also available with the warm, mellow tone of an all-mahogany body. Don’t let the price tag fool you; this guitar boasts exceptional features for an instrument of its class inc...8 Payments of $43.75
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Alvarez MD70E Masterworks Herringbone Dreadnought A/E Guitar with Gig Bag
$1,299.00In 2018, Alvarez launched the MD60BG – their take on a Bluegrass styled Dreadnought with modern dynamics for Flatpickers and players looking for that optimal full tone. This Acoustic Electric Rosewood version, the M...12 Payments of $108.25
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Gibson Limited Run J-45 Standard Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$2,999.00The J-45 is Gibson's best-selling acoustic of all time. Nicknamed "The Workhorse" and first introduced in 1942, this iconic acoustic has become the cornerstone of its round-shoulder, dreadnought line. World renowned...18 Payments of $166.61
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Taylor 212ce Grand Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gig Bag
$999.00Taylor 212ce Grand Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar The Taylor 212ce is an acoustic-electric guitar designed to feel as good as it sounds. Combining Taylor’s most compact body shape with the sonic warmth of walnu...18 Payments of $55.50
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Fender CD140SCE 12-String AE Guitar Walnut Neck with Case
$449.99The 12-string CD-140SCE offers great tone and excellent playability, plus providing classic jangle and bell-like sound with premium appointments. This model includes the same great featureset as its six-string count...8 Payments of $56.25
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Taylor Gold Label 717e Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$2,554.00 - $2,999.00Taylor Gold Label 717e Acoustic Electric Guitar The Taylor Gold Label 717e Grand Pacific isn't just another acoustic guitar; it's a complete sonic masterpiece, ready to resonate in your hands. Built with Andy Pow...18 Payments of $166.61
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Takamine GD74CE-12 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gig Bag
$1,399.00This Takamine 12-string guitar is designed to be strung in unison, providing a purpose-built dreadnought cutaway for popular regional Mexican music styles. Booming, growling low notes complimented by sweet midrange ...12 Payments of $116.58
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Taylor Gold Label 517e Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$2,799.00Introducing the Gold Label Grand Pacific 517e Blacktop top guitar—a deeper-bodied acoustic guitar with advanced fanned V class bracing architecture designed to bring enhanced warmth, power, and projection to your pl...18 Payments of $155.50
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Yamaha APX600 Acoustic Electric Guitar
$314.95 - $329.99Combining incredible comfort with easy top-fret access, the Yamaha APX600 thinline cutaway acoustic-electric guitar is ready for all stages in your life. The APX600 boasts a more natural look, a deeper body for bett...8 Payments of $41.25
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Yamaha LSTA TransAcoustic Acoustic Electric Guitar with Hard Bag
$1,149.99Yamaha LSTA TransAcoustic Acoustic-Electric Guitar There's nothing more inspiring than playing guitar in a great-sounding room. The way the notes bloom and resonate makes you play better and longer. The Yamaha LS...12 Payments of $95.83
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Martin GPC-X2E Cocobolo Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gigbag
$849.99This remarkable Martin GPC-X2E belongs to Martin's remastered X Series, a collection specifically catered to those who live and breathe the rich and soulful tones of acoustic guitars. The Martin GPC-X2E acoustic ele...12 Payments of $70.83
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Taylor 354ce 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar
$2,349.00Introducing the Taylor 354ce acoustic electric 12 string, an amazing 12 string acoustic electric guitar that is the entry level into the all solid, U.S. made instruments. The 354ce responds well to strumming and fla...18 Payments of $130.50
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Acoustic Electric Guitars
With an onboard preamp and/or built-in pickup system, your new Acoustic Electric guitar offers the best of both worlds. The resonant tonewoods and expert craftsmanship of an acoustic guitar are combined with the versatility of an electric guitar. Excellent for onstage use, an acoustic electric makes it easy to add effects, plug in to any amp, and eliminates the hassle of using a mic.
Acoustic Electric Guitars
An acoustic electric guitar gives you everything you love about an acoustic instrument: the resonant tonewoods, the natural projection, the feel of playing unplugged, plus a built-in pickup system that lets you plug straight into an amp or PA the moment the gig calls for it — no mic stands to position, no feedback battles, no compromises. Whether you're playing a coffee shop, a 500-cap venue, or tracking in the studio, acoustic electric guitars can handle it all without missing a note.
At AMS, we carry acoustic electric guitars from Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Epiphone, Fender, Takamine, Ibanez, Yamaha, Gretsch, Breedlove, and more, with options spanning every body shape, tonewood, and price point.
The right acoustic electric doesn't just amplify your sound; it translates it faithfully. With quality onboard electronics and thoughtful construction, today's acoustic electrics sound as good through a PA as they do in your living room.
What Makes an Acoustic Electric Guitar Different?
The electric version of a standard acoustic guitar features the addition of an integrated electronics system. Here's what that typically includes:
- Pickup system: Most commonly a piezo undersaddle pickup, soundhole pickup, or internal microphone that captures the vibration of the top and strings.
- Onboard preamp: Boosts and shapes the pickup signal before it hits your amp or DI; often includes basic EQ controls.
- EQ controls: Bass, mid, and treble knobs (and sometimes a notch filter for feedback control) mounted on the upper bout for quick adjustments on stage.
- Built-in tuner: Many models include a chromatic tuner in the preamp panel, so you can tune silently between songs without a separate pedal.
- Output jack: Usually a standard 1/4" endpin jack that doubles as the strap button, keeping your cable out of the way.
- Battery compartment: Active preamp systems run on a 9V battery; passive pickup systems require no power.
Types of Acoustic Electric Guitars
The acoustic electric category covers a wide range of body styles and playing applications. Here's a look at the main types you'll find at AMS and what each one is best suited for.
Dreadnought Acoustic Electrics
The dreadnought is the most popular acoustic body shape for a reason. It's loud, full-bodied, and projects well in almost any setting. Brands like Martin, Takamine, and Gibson have built some of the most iconic dreadnought acoustic electrics ever made, and plugged into a PA, they deliver the same powerful low-end and clear high-end presence they're known for unplugged. Great for strummers, singer-songwriters, and country players.
Grand Auditorium and Concert Body Acoustics
Slightly smaller than a dreadnought with a more pronounced waist, grand auditorium and concert body guitars offer a balanced, articulate sound that suits both strumming and fingerpicking. Taylor makes some of the best acoustic electric guitars in this category: versatile, stage-ready, and easy to play across a wide range of styles.
Cutaway Acoustic Electrics
A cutaway body gives you easier access to the upper frets without significantly impacting the guitar's resonance. If you play lead lines or want to get beyond the 12th fret on an acoustic, a cutaway is worth the tradeoff. Many of Taylor’s and Takamine's most popular stage guitars feature a soft Venetian cutaway combined with their proprietary onboard electronics system.
Travel and Mini Acoustic Electrics
Compact acoustic electrics like the Taylor GS Mini-e pack a surprising amount of tone into a smaller frame, making them ideal for travel, practice, and players who prefer a shorter scale length. They're fully equipped with pickups and preamps, so they're just as stage-capable as their full-size counterparts.
Martin Molly Tuttle Acoustic Guitars
This video highlights two new collaborations with bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle, showcasing the Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle and the Martin D-X2E Molly Tuttle acoustic guitars. Both models are inspired by her prized 1943 D-18 and feature custom celestial inlays based on the phases of the moon.
How To Choose the Right Acoustic Electric Guitar
With so many great options at every price point, narrowing it down is easier when you focus on what matters for your playing:
- Body style: Dreadnoughts project loudly and suit strumming; auditorium and concert shapes balance volume with articulation; parlor and mini shapes are more comfortable for smaller players or fingerstyle work.
- Tonewoods: Spruce tops are bright and responsive; mahogany tops are warmer and more mid-focused; koa and other exotic woods offer unique tonal character.
- Electronics quality: The pickup and preamp system matters as much as the guitar itself for live use; look for trusted systems from Fishman and LR Baggs on higher-end models.
- Cutaway vs. non-cutaway: Cutaways open up the upper frets at a slight acoustic volume tradeoff; non-cutaway bodies typically offer more resonance.
- Budget: AMS carries acoustic electrics from entry-level options under $300 all the way through professional-grade instruments from Martin, Taylor, and Gibson.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acoustic Electric Guitars
Do I need an amp to play an acoustic electric guitar?
No, an acoustic electric plays and sounds exactly like a standard acoustic when unplugged. The electronics only come into play when you plug into an amp, PA, or audio interface. That's what makes acoustic electrics so versatile: one guitar covers both quiet practice at home and amplified performance on stage.
What's the difference between active and passive pickup systems?
Active pickup systems include an onboard preamp powered by a 9V battery. They produce a stronger, more consistent output signal and typically include EQ controls for shaping your tone. Passive systems have no battery and output a lower, more raw signal. They're simpler but may require a DI box or dedicated acoustic preamp to sound their best through a PA.
Can I plug an acoustic electric guitar directly into a PA?
Yes, though the results vary by guitar and system. Most acoustic electrics with an active preamp can plug directly into a mixer's DI input and sound good. For the best results, especially with passive pickups or in professional settings, running through a dedicated acoustic preamp or DI box before the board will give you better control over tone and feedback.
Check Out Acoustic Electric Guitars at American Musical Supply
AMS carries acoustic electric guitars from every major brand, at every price point, for every style of player. Each guitar ships fast and free, comes backed by our Gold Lock Extended Warranty at no extra cost, and is available on 0% interest payment plans so you can get the instrument you actually want without stretching your budget all at once.
Have questions about which guitar is right for you? Give our gear experts a call at 800-458-4076. We'll help you find your match.
